Chapter 13

Miranda stood up quickly. “I’m...I have to go to the bathroom. Uh, there are some of the biscuits you like in the cupboard, Mom. Why don’t you try a few?” She didn’t bother to see if she replied, just bolted out of the room and looked around.

She almost ran past the bathroom when the door opened a crack. She barged in and quickly closed the door behind her. Jareth was standing there looking in the mirror. “You’re solid again?” He glanced at her in the mirror and nodded. “Couldn’t you do it when no one is here?” she hissed quietly.

Jareth turned and gave her a wide-eyed look. “I...” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I do not get to make the choice of the time.”

She waved her hands around. “I know! Sorry,” she practically mouthed. “We—” He pulled her against him so hard she lost her breath. In one smooth move she found herself sitting on the bathroom counter in his arms with his mouth devouring hers.

“Randy?”

Stiffening at her mother’s voice, she cleared her throat. “Yeah?” Jareth’s mouth was working its way down her throat.

“I’ll just be sitting outside.”

He bit lightly into the most perfect spot on her neck, one she didn’t know affected her that way... “Uh, okay, Mom. I’ll be out soon.” She dropped her head back and grabbed a handful of his hair as his mouth started to move back toward hers. “I can’t do this and then walk back out there...” His tongue brushed gently against her ear and then he bit it. Heat rushed through her and landed right where his body was pushing between her legs.

“Your scent is enthralling, little one,” he whispered in her ear.

Geez, does the guy have to be so friggin’... She leaned back. “The timing sucks!” His mouth feathered over her lips, once, twice, before he rested his forehead against hers. “We should just stab her and hide the body,” she mumbled more to herself than him.

He brushed his mouth over hers again. “If you wish.” He ran the back of his hand lightly down the front of her top and grinned when she sucked in a breath.

“I guess you can’t try to stay like this until she goes to sleep or something?” Her fingers played in his hair as she looked up into the most amazing eyes she could ever remember seeing. The man was really beautiful in a wholly masculine way.

Jareth smiled down at her. “I shall endeavour to, little one.” Shivers were shooting all through his body at the touch of her hands in his hair. He looked at her mouth and had to taste her once more. He lowered his mouth to hers slowly, rubbing his lips over hers once before licking them. His kiss was tender and fleeting before he nibbled lightly on her bottom lip. He opened his eyes to see hers closed as her body became pliant in his arms. He smiled and lifted his head. The woman would be a treasure to make love with, as she was so reactive to his touch. Grasping her hips, he pulled her warm heat directly against his own hardness and rocked her a few times over it. She gasped and he felt himself harden further.

Opening her eyes slowly, she groaned. “I’m buying a gun,” she said in a hushed, unsteady voice.

He chuckled quietly into her hair. “I am a wonderful marksman. May I assist you?” He lifted his head and allowed a small space between them. Letting go of her was the very last thing he wished to do; however with her mother nearby, he had no choice.

She looked up at him with those sensual dark eyes and reached to hold his face between warm palms. His breath seized in his body as she stretched up to place a soft line of kisses over the mark of his scar. Never had he experienced such an endearing touch in his life. He brushed his thumb over her lips. “Return to me rapidly, love. I shall conceal myself in your quarters until I am no longer able to be seen.”

Pausing, with a look in her eyes let him know leaving him was the last thing she wished for in this moment. She nodded and hopped off the counter, her hands sliding down over his chest as she did, causing him to shudder.

~

Jareth paced through the house. Hours had passed since his solidity had faded. He was disturbed with Miranda’s mother; she was unrelenting as the constant drivel poured from her over painted lips. Were his form to return during the stay of this woman, he had long decided to abruptly appear and frighten her into taking her leave right away. Of course Miranda would take a slice from him for doing so, but he was fairly certain she would absolve him for helping her.

He found Miranda at her computer. Her mother stood looking at the ships Miranda treasured.

“Randy, you named one of your boats Calico? Isn’t that a type of cat?”

Jareth snarled at the woman, and hoped for her to at the very least sense his loathing of her.

Miranda spun around and looked right at him before giving her mother an annoyed look. “They’re ships, Mom, and I did not name it after a kind of cat!” She quickly looked at Jareth, as he hovered very close to her mom’s back. He looked like wanted nothing more than to wrap his hands right around her throat.

She sent him a warning look. He looked at her mother with a snarl on his lips and then turned to walk to the other side of the room. She sighed and turned back to the computer. “I don’t have much money, Mom. As I said, I’m not working right now so I can’t...loan you the whole thing.”

“Oh, that’s too bad, sweetie, about you not working.”

Going over he stood in front of the desk. He crossed his arms and look down upon Miranda. “You are giving her your savings?”

Randy opened her mouth and then shut it quickly, giving him an exasperated glare. “I have to leave myself a little something, Mom, just in case I don’t get work soon. You understand.” She watched her mother sit gracefully on the couch before turning back to glare at him as he glared right back at her.

“Of course dear, whatever you can afford.”

Randy completed the money transfer and then looked back up to see Jareth standing there with his arms crossed over his chest, not looking happy with what she had just done. She shrugged and turned the computer off.

Spinning in the chair, she studied her mom. There had never really been a time she had felt close to her. It was hard to feel close to someone who was so completely obsessed with themselves—and with men. It hadn’t always been that way. She vaguely remembered a time when her mom talked to her and played with her, but something had broken after her father left.

Jareth moved into her view and studied her face with searching eyes. She watched him for a moment and wasn’t sure how, but she knew he understood what she was feeling more than the woman who had given birth to her.

“Take your leave and come to me soon, little one,” he whispered to her.

~

Jareth looked out at the night from the window by Miranda’s bed. A short while had passed, and Miranda had yet to come to him. He wanted her where he could assess her mood, and to hold her if she had need. He looked down at his hands, willing them to be solid so he could do just that. Would he be content to just hold her, not touch her to arouse? He was staggered to realize he could. He could be whatever she needed him to be. He heard the door open and turned.

Closing the door, Randy leaned back against it with her eyes closed. She took a rough breath as a tear rolled down her cheek. She inhaled slowly and opened her eyes to see him watching her. “She’s sleeping on the couch. She’ll be gone in the morning if I know her.”

“I am truly sorry, Miranda.” He stepped toward her slowly. “I cannot grasp having a parent who is anything less than attentive.”

She sniffed. “Your mom was a good mother, wasn’t she?”

“Yes. I might not have been a good son, yet she cherished me in spite of it.” He stopped directly in front of her and looked down into her haunted eyes. “A child should feel a binding love from a parent.”

“I’m not a child anymore.”

“I feel you never were.” He lifted his hand and placed it next to her hair. The tingling was all that was present, but he was not sorry for that. “Come to bed and we can speak of anything you wish.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

Stretching his form out on the bed, he watched her move around the room. She shed her attire quickly and pulled a loose shirt over her head. It suited her as much as the tempting undergarments did. He let out a slow breath; he would not focus on that at this moment. She required of him something other than his stirring feelings.

Climbing into the bed, she pulled the covers up. She turned on her side and looked at him. “Why can I see you and no one else can?”

“I am blessed.” He beamed at the expression on her face. Slipping down lower on the bed, he rested his head on a crooked arm and looked at her face. “I cannot assess the reason, little one, only that there must, in fact, be one.”

She moved closer. Even though he couldn’t physically feel her close to him, he felt better with her near. Hadn’t it always been that way? From as far back as he remembered.

“I’ve been thinking about why my car was in on this. How is that possible?”

He watched her mouth in spite of his earlier resolution. It was, to him, perfection. “I cannot even grasp how your automobile is involved.”

Her eyes ran over his face. “You’ve always been there, Jareth, even before I understood what was going on.”

“I was compelled to. I will not say I was always easy with the thought of needing to ensure you were well, but I did.” He smiled at her.

“You always showed up when I really needed you.”

“Perhaps our souls were drawn to one another, little one. I cannot explain it otherwise.”

Reaching out, she ran a finger over his scar, causing it to tingle in a way that was starting to feel as normal as touch to him.

“Tell me how you got this.”

He frowned a moment as he thought. “I believe that is not a story for a lady to hear.”

“I am no lady.”

His eyes widened. “I beg your pardon, but you certainly are.”

“You’re so sweet sometimes,” she whispered.

“No, I fear your assessment is far from correct. I am not sweet, nor even so much as slightly endearing.”

She propped up on one elbow and looked down at him. “Yeah, you are. You may have been a fierce pirate, and you may always have the heart of one, but now you’re sweet.” She smirked. “And it’s not polite to disagree with a lady, so don’t bother trying.”

He grinned back at her. “How is it you are not a lady when I say it is so, but when you can use it to your advantage you suddenly become one?”

“It’s a girl’s privilege.” She stuck her tongue out at him.

His jaw dropped and then he laughed. “You are half imp and half goddess, so it is quite possible I am indeed half pirate and half sweet.”

Dropping back down, she looked at him. “Thank you.” His eyebrows creased. “For making me feel better.”

“It is my pleasure, little one.” Jareth allowed himself to feel of use for the first time he could recall in a long while. “Try to rest, love, for on the morrow we are going to plot a path to removing this curse.”

Her eyes softened as she watched him. “Will you stay with me?”

“As long as I am permitted.” He leaned over and brushed his mouth over hers. He longed to feel flesh beneath his, but he was secure with the warm feeling that spread through him in its place.

~

Jareth lost count of how long he lay there and watch her. He had committed to memory the entire outline of her form, as well as the appealing features of her face in rest. He felt peace near her as they were now, a peace he had never quite recalled having been given to him before this moment.

What was it with this small woman who was the cause of so many changes as of late? Perhaps his need of one for so long? He wondered, as well, if it was her need of having someone to understand all the parts of her that pushed for the changes that had occurred.

He reached out absently as he thought, meaning to trace his hand down her one exposed arm. His flesh lightly came in contact with her own. Pulling his hand away, he looked down at it. Why now? He could not fathom how this fading in and out worked.

Closing his eyes, he thanked whatever force was responsible. Opening them, he slid down on the bed and moved closer to her. He might not be able to take real sleep, but he could lie with her and watch over her in slumber. He placed his arm around her waist and froze when she moved her back into him. Resting his head on the pillow, and noting how marvellous such a small thing felt, he wrapped his arm around her and cradled her into the shelter of his body.

Her arm moved and she weaved her fingers between his.

“Much better,” Randy muttered and snuggled back into him.

Jareth sighed and leaned his face into her hair. He could not help the hardening of his own body next to the warm softness of hers pressing into him, but he would not act upon it. Having been denied all for so long, he had come to value some things, and this one moment would be one of them forever.